Author Archive

May 21st, 2012 by Jack

One of the things I liked best about being out on the road with sales was meeting yarncrafters face to face. Now that I spend more time working with the Lion Brand Yarn Outlet here in New Jersey, it’s still a treat for me to talk to knitters and crocheters in person, and to see their faces light up when they see all our colorful yarns and supplies.

Last week several ladies from the Cedar Crest RetirementCommunity in Pompton Plains came out in dreary Monday morning rain to pay a visit to the Outlet. The ladies came in, shook off the weather and strolled through the rows and rows of vibrant yarns stocked on the shelves.(more…)

October 30th, 2011 by Jack

Like many people, I love my iPhone. It lets me check my email on the go, access my Lion Brand app, and take pictures and videos of things that inspire me wherever I go. Recently, I passed the Hermès store and with my iPhone, I took a picture (below left) of the amazing coat in the window–it’s made of yarn and has a wonderful loopy texture.

I really love the look of that coat, and I think the texture would be great for a hand-knitting or crochet project. I showed the picture to Zontee, and she reminded me that we have a great purse pattern that has that same great texture, but in a more accessible style (not everyone can wear a full-length loopy coat!). I hope you’ll check it out. Click here for the purse pattern.

Have you been inspired to knit or crochet a project based on something you’ve seen? Leave a comment and share your experience.

October 2nd, 2011 by Jack

Regular readers of the blog know that I am a big sports fan, and I love when I get to combine my love of sports with my love of yarn. It’s the end of Stitch N Pitch season, and as usual, it’s been a season full of great baseball and lots of yarncrafting. Here in New York, I was proud to once again serve on the organizing committee and to be able to attend a game at Citi Field with my fellow yarn lovers. Citi Field is a truly special place, and this year, the committee and I, along with hundreds of knitters and crocheters yarnstormed (or “yarn bombed”) the stadium in Mets colors. Then we sat down for the game and enjoyed our crafting while watching the game. As a special bonus, the committee and I got to go out on the ball field, and I even got to meet Mr. Met.

Check out some of the photos from the event below!

If you’re reading this blog post in your email, please click on the title of the blog post to view the full blog post and slideshow online.

August 28th, 2011 by Jack

Play Ball! August is wrapping up, which means we’re heading into the home stretch of this year’s Stitch N Pitch season. If you’re not already familiar with it, Stitch N Pitch is an event organized by the National NeedleArts Association that brings yarn crafters to major league ball games. As someone passionate about both yarn and sports, there is nothing I love more than to see people yarn crafting supporting local sports.

As we get to the end of Stitch N Pitch season, I hope that those of you who have already attended your local Stitch N Pitch games had a great time, and I hope you’ll leave a comment sharing your experiences.

Stitch N Pitch in New York
My fellow New York Stitch N Pitch committee members and I have been working hard to top last year’s event, during which we set the World Record for most people crocheting in one place. This year, we’re planning–with the help of yarn crafters like you–to yarn storm (or “yarn bomb”) Citi Field. If you’re in the NYC-area, click here to learn more about how you can drop off swatches at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio in Manhattan and come to our seaming party to help seam up the swatches into pieces that will decorate Citi Field! I am extremely excited for everyone to see the yarn storming that will place at Citi Field. It will truly be something to see.

So come one, come all as we cheer on the New York Mets as they battle the Washington Nationals. Again, the game is September 13 and it starts at 7:10 pm. To purchase tickets for the game, visit the Lion Brand Yarn Studio.

June 30th, 2011 by Jack

Recently there have been a plethora of publications writing articles about the world of yarn bombing and yarn in fine arts. It is so nice to see the exciting world of yarn crafting brought to light, since working with yarn–as knitters & crocheters already know–is a wonderful form of artistic expression that should be shared with the world. Looking at these articles show you how something as simple as a skein of yarn can be transformed into a work of art. To check out some of these articles for yourself, use the following links:

April 18th, 2011 by Jack

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Long Island Knitting Guild. I always love speaking to ladies who are as passionate about yarn as I am; it creates such a wonderful rapport and allows for great questions. As I was leaving the meeting, one of the ladies presented me with three comic strips from her local paper, each of which were about knitting. [Click the photo above to enlarge.]

Not only was I excited because I collect knitting and crochet-related memorabilia, but I was also excited to see this because it reminded me of our very own Lola comic. Lola has been the most popular aspect of our Weekly Stitch newsletter for years and she’s is an important lady here in Lion Country. To check out what funny thing she is going to do next, subscribe and stay tuned for our next newsletter or you can check our new Lola comic book.

Have you spotted other knit/crochet-related comics? Tell us about them by leaving a comment!

Want me to visit your group? Groups of 50 or more in the tri-state area can contact me at jack@lionbrand.com regarding speaking at an event.

October 26th, 2010 by Jack

Recently, I read a great article on the Madison Daily Leader‘s website about a woman named Shirley Harrington-Moore, who just knitted her 100th shawl for charity. As I have stated in previous blog posts, knitting and crocheting for charities is near and dear to my heart, so I am always thrilled when I see these type of stories in the news. In the article, Shirley discusses how her passion for knitting shawls comes from her desire to provide people who live in nursing homes with a form of comfort and warmth. She also says that it takes “approximately 15 hours to create one of her shawls and usually produces one per week.” I think that is pretty impressive for someone to take that much time out of their personal time to create something so comforting for those in need.

Shirley mentions that Lion Brand is her brand of choice for these shawls, and the picture on the front page of the article even features her modeling one of her latest shawls, which is made from the pattern that is featured on the inside of the Homespun label. We are so proud to have such loyal consumers, and we are inspired by all of your hard work and creativity!

October 6th, 2010 by Jack

Regular readers of the Lion Brand Notebook might have noticed that I love sports and sports memorabilia. Recently I attended a sports card show, and through a sea of sports collectibles, I noticed a woman selling knitted scarves at her husband’s booth. It just goes to show you, that you never know where yarn might pop up. When I got up close to the booth I realized not only were the scarves knitted, but they were knitted with our yarns like Homespun, Mystery, and Fancy Fur.

If you’ve ever thought about selling your handmade goods at a local show, craft fair, or even online, here are a couple of things that might help you on your way (click the highlighted text below to learn more):

August 20th, 2010 by Jack

While I was on vacation last week, I went to a lecture on health and wellness. During the lecture I noticed a woman crocheting in the audience, and I instantly felt right at home. Her name was Elaine (pictured right), and I couldn’t wait to ask her all about her project. When I asked, I was extremely happy to find out that she was crocheting preemie hats for a local charity. Charity yarncrafting has always been near and dear to my heart and I truly appreciate all of those who donate their time and energies to such worthy causes.

Elaine even shared a little fun fact with me: Did you know that while crocheting hats for babies, a preemie hat should be the size of an orange and a full sized baby hat should be the size of a grapefruit?

It really is amazing that you never know when you might learn something new about crafts you thought you knew well!

What interesting knitting & crochet tips and tidbits have you learned unexpectedly? Leave a comment and tell us!

Are you looking for a yarncrafting charity to donate to? Check our Charity Connection database for local, national, and international organizations.

July 26th, 2010 by Jack

Recently, I received a Garnet Hill catalog in the mail and was really excited to see yarn on the cover. Being in the yarn industry, I like to collect various memorabilia that relates to knitting, crocheting, and yarn. Over the years I have collected magazine and catalog covers that feature yarn; it’s always great to see yarn on these covers because it means that people feel that knitting and crocheting are a part of their daily lives.

Below, I have provided pictures of some of my favorite covers. Enjoy!

(If you’re looking at this blog post on the website, click on the slideshow to move to the next photo. If you’re viewing this blog post in your e-mail and you’re having trouble with the photos, please click the title to see it on the website.)

Where have you seen yarn in popular culture that made you happy? Tell us about it by leaving a comment!